SBL W7

This week at SBL I conducted an investigative math interview with a yr  5 student based on 24 hr time. Observed another math and science lesson, got involved in both the math lessons. Spent a whole day in my fave class. Observed shared writing in action.

Highlights
Being in my fave class for a whole day, really making a connections with the kids.
Massive shared morning tea. :)
Having a girl come to read with me in the morning two days in a row and really making a connection with her, she doesn't read much at home, and her teacher has asked her to read with me.
Learning about fractions!this will help with my math test coming up in the 3rd term!
Spending one on one time with my yr5 student and talking to her about what she knows and what she still needs to learn etc.

Challenges
A yr 2 math group, had taken them before, this time for some reason the two boys got a bit out of control. I had to raise my voice and say ' boys you both need to cut it out! Or go and tell Mrs X that you have being misbehaving!' After that they did calm down and start to listen. I did get to a point where I didn't know what else to do with them, so my knowledge needs to grow.
Understanding the concept of shared writing with a template.
What do I say when children say things like 'I have no dad'? Took me by surprise. And I just sort of said oh ok.

What I learnt.
How to order fractions :)
That I need to have more knowledge of maths before I can teach it.
That when children don't understand something, try and give your own example as a teacher and then ask for more suggestions from class once you have clarified what you are asking of them. (In context of shared writing)

SBL W6

This week at SBL I had an interesting week. Was good to be in a class for a full day on Wednesday and see how the day goes start to finish. Tuesday I observed a senior science lesson, and a middle math lesson. I choose both my children that I am using for my assessment and happy with the choices.

Highlights.
I'm really enjoying the science lessons, I thought this would be an area that Im not interested in but I've surprised myself and I like observing them.
Watching a teacher making a mistake during a math lesson and realising this and fixing it, made me realise teachers are humans and aren't always right.
I really enjoy being in a yr 2 class all day.

Challenges.
To control children who do not listen. I managed to do it in some situations but not another. I still think that the children do not see me as teachers, even though the school calls us Candidate Teachers at the school. I need to work on my firm voice.
Being professional with a teacher when they asked about other CT's maturity levels, I just held my tongue even though I wanted to agree with that teacher.
Keeping my mouth shut when I see and hear innaporitae things the other CT's are doing and saying, I think it's imbarrassing and reflects badly on the rest of us and the institute where we study.

What I learnt.
That modeled writing and shared writing are two different things, have seen examples of both.
That teachers make mistakes.
That most teachers don't even think of learning theories after teaching training.
That I should learn the guitar as it's a great tool for learning in class rooms as well.

School based learning W5

This week at SBL the focus was on the structure of a maths and science lesson. I also had a one on one chat with a year 6 student about learning and attending a school swimming lesson/outing.

Highlights
Being in a fun year 5 and 6 class where the kids all just worked together. The classroom culture was awesome and the teacher was really approachable and I enjoyed being in the class. Felt like I genuinely was welcome and could help out.

Challenges
Staying focused in a year 1 class. The teacher was on CRT and it was an ex teacher from the school and she knew the kids and they all behaved but I found it was a little out of sync and that I didn't really get anything out of it. Year 1's on there own are a challenge but I managed to build a relationship with a few of them so that was good.
I had a student in a yr 2 class that was calling me a different name, I corrected him 4 times and he was doing it on purpose and telling others kids to call me that too, none did but I then turned to him and said, this is my name and I would like you to say it correctly and call me by that thank you, it's not very nice when you get called another name by someone when they know your correct one, I use your name so please give me the same respect. Then he quickly changed his tune.
I still feel in a few classes that I don't know what I can and can't do.
Not to laugh at a child who is just so polite and 'smooth' with the teacher. A really sweet kid, and very over the top sweet funny. He said "oh excuse me please mrs x I can't see the board" then mrs x moved to the side and he said "oh thank you lovely". How could you not giggle at that. A 7yr old.

What I learnt
That teachers do speak about students in the staff room quite regularly. Not bad things but about there past challenges and what they are doing now. I find it interesting. I didn't find it unprofessional, I thought they were helping each other out, although they did use names.
I learnt a new way to motivate a senior class. "The dollar system" I took some photos as evidence but I really liked this strategy to get the class to behave and do tasks.
Learnt about the schools swimming program.
I learnt that I don't want a new entrant yr1 class. It's mentally draining. A lot of tears from the kids I miss there mums.
I learnt that a day in school when you haven't slept well is challenging, so go to bed early on SBL nights.
To be almost aggressive with the teachers who's classes I'm in with what I can do. Get in there right away. They like it when I say "what would you like me to do"

I feel annoyed that one of the CT's is making the rest of us look bad. When a teacher has a complaint about one of us it reflects badly on all of us, and this frustrates me as I am trying my best to stand out in the classes and be a professional and form those professional relationships with the staff. I wish the MT did name and shame that CT so they step up to the mark that the rest of us are at.

School Based Learning W4

Interesting week at school this week. My first taste of a junior class. Successful PE lesson. Building professional relationships with the staff.

Highlights
Being in a year 2 class, I really enjoyed the younger kids. I found them more attentive and keen to please and learn. This is my preferred year group I think. (At this point)

Taking a successful PE lesson and getting good feedback from my critical friend. A few points to still work on but all in all it was successful and my kids thanked me and said they enjoyed themselves.

  
Challenges

Taking a year 2 maths group, keeping it interesting enough for the students to learn.

Have decided what I am going to do in the school, a lunch time drama class. I said I would do it was year 3 and 4's to start off with. I am looking forward to doing theatre sports games and things but I am nervous as I don't know how many kids I will get. 

Learnt

I learnt that I need to not be so hard on myself and that I am more than capable of doing this. I need to believe in my own ability.

Talking to teachers and listening to there stories is always good learning. Hearing those conversations in the staff room always help me with particular kids. 

I really look forward to my SBL days and it reminds me why I want to be a teacher. Seeing that lightbulb go off in a child's mind is really rewarding.

School based learning W3

Wow what a great two days in the classroom of two very experienced teachers which both offered great advice and great teaching and management techniques. I feel I learnt a lot about myself and who I want to be as a teacher this week.

Highlights
Reading with a struggling student, I do really enjoy that one on one time.
My pe lesson that I took with my small group of learners, helped build my confidence in front of a group.
Having a good conversation about realistic expectations of teaching and students with an experienced teacher.

Challenges
Giving clear instructions. I was quite vauge at times and the students didn't know what to do.
Taking a year 6 maths group. I feel I failed massively at this. I felt incompetent.
Correcting spelling when I'm not a strong speller myself.

What I learnt
That it's ok to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them.
Attended a staff meeting about keeping kids safe from abuse etc, I found it really sad but I feel more prepared to deal with a situation if it arises now.

I'm really not sure on what I can offer the school in terms of a skill. I need to find out if it's just something we do for part of the year or the whole year. I find that the days go so quickly anyway. Are we expected to take something in the lunch break or after school, feeling a bit overwhelmed about it really. I'm still trying to find my feet in the school and get to know the staff I don't really want to be taken from the staff room every lunch time.

Looking forward to next week!

School based learning W2

Highlights
Being in a first year teachers class. Fresh ideas and class room set up was outstanding. Built a great rapport with this teacher and feel quite comfortable asking him simple questions. And felt he was open and honest in his answers.
Having students read to me, is such a highlight. I picked out some students that were in a lower reading group and they read me books. Great to see them trying and knowing that I can help them with there words is exciting.
Meeting a known child that acts out and has behavioural issues and having him choose to sit next to me and do some reading and puzzle books in the library, I asked him his name (even though I knew who he was) and introduced myself and then we sat for awhile and chatted and read, was very cool to have control (this time). He also said hello to me while I was on duty at lunch.
Felt a lot more comfortable in the school around the teachers and students. The students all using my name out in the play ground. Seeing me on duty helped.

Challenges
Not getting frustrated with students that can't follow simple instructions, or had to continually tell to stop chatting and do what they are meant to be doing. The amount of students in the class that couldn't rule straight lines with a ruler was astonishing.

Learnt
That being a broken record helps!
To start the year of as a firm teacher so that everyone knows the rules and how to behave in your class, then you can soften as everyone is doing what they are meant to be doing later in the year.
That building relationships with your class is important early on.
How to teach and take a successful p.e lesson :)
Positive reinforcement works.

School based learning W1

First two days of school based learning

Highlights: 

Being told that the school sees us as part of the staff. i think thats really cool and will help with my confidence to do things and speak up when i have questions, it will also help with respect from the students.

I enjoyed walking around the school in the lunch time and just observing what goes on in the playground, it was quite stereotypical with boys all playing games on the courts and ball games on the field, with girls huddled in the shade in small groups close to the class rooms doing colouring competitions. I would like to get a few of the girls out and playing so games or something on more of my school based learning days.

being in the classroom for both days and just observing and helping with things. it actually blew my mind with how much you have to fit into one day and how much teaching it actually takes for kids to listen. the simplest things take so long. i have a lot of learning and hard work to do i think.

Challenges:

the kids made me feel nervous at times when they asked questions that i didn't know the answers too, i hope in time i will know how to respond. I felt nervous when i had a group of  8 reading them a book, i need to build confidence with the kids. I think i will be better when i am by myself in a class observing as i won't feel like i need to impress my other candidate teacher (who is very experienced and great with kids. i think he will be great candidate teacher to bounce ideas off and help grow me as a teacher too) 

as a teacher- getting the class to all do what you want them to do is going to be a huge challenge. just holding the control and giving clear instructions and following up what needs to be done.

at this stage i think everything is going to be a challenge. i don't thing anything is going to be easy. i can just hope that i get feedback along the way to help me grow confidence and give me areas to work on.

Learn:

How to be clam and collective! when half the class has finished a task make sure you have a box of things or a list of activities they can carry on with! not everyone in the class is at the same level and you need to allow for that in your teaching! give time limits and count down when an instruction is given! even something as simple as passing books forward is the biggest mission and a disruption. its hard to keep the whole class focused, although they all seemed to be learning a lot of focus seemed to wonder. i had one student that really struggled to write 3 sentences for her goals, i really had to push her to write, eventually she got there, last one in the class to finish. when we did art in the afternoon the same student was really good at following instruction and had her pencil drawing finished within mins. i discussed this with the other candidate teacher and he said she must be creative and we could of said to her the sooner you get your goals done you can have a bit of creative time. we made of seen her do her writing faster. 

I really enjoyed being amongst it at the school and can't wait till next week and be in another class room.